Michael in Applecross

Michael Diver
(click photo for enlargement)

 Charlie Middler, one of the grand old harriers when I joined the club, used to love to make his way as best he could to Applecross and walk and climb the hills there. He loved the area.

Last week Michael Diver visited the area but he had serious plans in mind! The plan was to cycle over the Bealach na Ba from Shieldaig to Applecross - a 43 mile round trip. He had done it just last year and taken over 4 hours which is not bad given the fearsome 10K climb at the start. This time he excelled himself - starting with 51 minutes for the 10K climb, his overall time was 3 hours 56 minutes. It's a beautiful part of the country but really hard work if you are walking, running or cycling! It's good to see Michael coming into good form again and if he is really fit for the start of the winter season, then he will be a more than valuable addition to captain Paul Carroll's team.

By the way, I noticed in a history of the Two Bridges race that Michael had finished in the top ten. It was a wonderful ultra distance race which started in Dunfermline and went along the north side of the Forth as far as the Kincardine Bridge, crossed the Bridge and came back on the South side to cross the Forth Road Bridge and then run into Rosyth to finish. To be in the top ten in any year was quite a feat - lots of Englishmen and many Americans came and ran in it. It is now defunct but I had never known that Michel had run it never mind done so well!

Congratulations, Aileen!

Aileen Scott started Wednesday like any other day but she ended it as a Scottish Internationalist! Early on there was a phone call from Adrian Stott, the man behind events like the Edinburgh to Glasgow straight through race and numerous other ultra events, telling her she had been selected for the Six Nations International 24 hour race to be held on the weekend of 4th and 5th September, 2010. The selection was as a result of her magnificent race in London at Tooting Bec last September.
It is being held round the North Inch in Perth and is a full international with official Scottish kit being issued. Full details are at the Scottish athletics website at www.scottishathletics.org.uk. She has been asked to run in the Devil of the Highlands at the start of August as a training run.
Back to the international: the other five nations are France, Italy, Ireland, Wales and England. It would be good if other club members paid a visit to Perth that weekend to give her some support. We could even include a race - there are also other races such as a national 100Km championship and club relays for Junior and Senior athletes. So come on, folks, get teams entered, get yourself entered and give Aileen the support she deserves. Why don't soem of the seniors try the 100Km race? It is run round the park and if you have to drop out it is only a short walk to your clothes and you might just find an event for yourself!